I'm fussy cutting 5" blocks of horse fabric for dgd. I want to add 5" blocks in the nine patch design. Can you tell me how wide to cut the strips for the 5" finished block? My brain is not engaged this early in the morning. Thanks.

Always add a 1/2 inch both ways to any finished size.... for the 1/4 inch seam allowance each side.

5 inch finished, cut 5 1/2 inch square.

you need to add 1/2" for the seams, so cut a 5 1/2" block for a 5" finished block (5 1/2" strip sub cut into 5 1/2" squares) Your horses have to be cut at 5 1/2" too.

Thanks ladies. I have the horse blocks cut at 5 1/2". But I want to cut the strips for the 9 patch-but am at a loss as to how wide to cut them. So that the strips after being sewn together will be the 5 1/2". Sorry for being so dense.

I went to EQ7 and it looks like 2-3/16 will give you a 5" block. I would make a sample one first to make sure it does finish at 5".

mltquilt

EEEK that's what I was afraid of-3/16, eh? I will have to see if my ruler has 16ths on it. Thank you.

That would yield a slightly skimpy block.

I think I would consider making an "uneven" 9-patch - for easier cutting measurements.

Two options are attached:

Or you could really make it easier and put a 4 patch between them, lots easier to figure

Then you would cut 3 inch strips

(when two strips are sew together, the new band would/should be 5.5 inches wide)

Seems like maybe the 4 patch is a better idea now. For a 5" block maybe a nine patch would be too obtrusive. Back to the drawing board. Thanks so much for your help and thoughts.
Sandy